EnvironmentalProtectionLaw-Valstsvalodascentrs.docVIP

Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) with amending laws of: 21 June 2007 [shall come into force from 19 July 2007]; 14 February 2008 [shall come into force from 18 March 2008]; 14 November 2008 [shall come into force from 1 January 2009]; 12 June 2009 [shall come into force from 1 July 2009]; 1 December 2009 [shall come into force from 1 January 2010]; 16 December 2010 [shall come into force from 1 January 2011]; 7 June 2012 [shall come into force from 21 June 2012]; 18 April 2013 [shall come into force from 16 May 2013]. If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the date of the amending law appears in square brackets at the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears in square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph or clause. The Saeima?1 has adopted and the President has proclaimed the following Law: Environmental Protection Law Chapter I General Provisions Section 1. Terms Used in this Law The following terms are used in this Law: 1) natural resources – parts of nature, including air, water, flora, fauna, soils, subterranean depths; 2) eco-innovation – introduction of new scientific, technical, social or other ideas in the field of environmental technologies, as well as implementation of developments and technologies in a competitive product or service demanded in the market, which improves environmental quality; 3) emission – the direct or indirect release in the environment, as a result of human activities, of chemical substances (preparations), odours, organisms or micro-organisms, vibrations, heat, non-ionising radiation, noise or release of other types of pollution; 4) sustainable development – the integrated and balanced development of public welfare, the environment and economy, which meets the present social and economic needs of inhabitants and ensures the compliance with environmental requirements, not endangering the possibility to meet the